A review by bearofsand
The American Dream & The Zoo Story by Edward Albee
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The thing that strikes me about the Edward Albee plays that I've read is how he's so deftly able to mix humor, confusion, and an underlying sense of despair into each of his works. There's this comic element to his snappy dialogue that works beautifully. But there's also this sense that something seems off-tilt about the situations and characters we learn about. Albee tosses aside traditional societal norms so casually; the strange part is how all these characters act like nothing strange is ever afoot. It makes the reader (or intended viewer) question whether they are the ones unaware of common etiquette and practice.
This book starts off with "The American Dream", one of Albee's earlier works. Although it's a good one, it has the feeling as if Albee's still finding himself and his style out. Not all the characters are fully fleshed out and the ideas don't seem to be finalized in any way. He seems right on the cusp of greatness. Still, very enjoyable.
The more famous one, "The Zoo Story" comes next and is probably the second most famous of his works after "Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". Shockingly, it was the first play he ever wrote. While I don't enjoy it as much as WAOVW, this play is still a delight. It's a short one act play but it somehow is able to explore a myriad of subjects involving modern society: loneliness, dehumanization, social disparities, etc. It's a great read that can be done in one sitting. Highly recommended.
This book starts off with "The American Dream", one of Albee's earlier works. Although it's a good one, it has the feeling as if Albee's still finding himself and his style out. Not all the characters are fully fleshed out and the ideas don't seem to be finalized in any way. He seems right on the cusp of greatness. Still, very enjoyable.
The more famous one, "The Zoo Story" comes next and is probably the second most famous of his works after "Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". Shockingly, it was the first play he ever wrote. While I don't enjoy it as much as WAOVW, this play is still a delight. It's a short one act play but it somehow is able to explore a myriad of subjects involving modern society: loneliness, dehumanization, social disparities, etc. It's a great read that can be done in one sitting. Highly recommended.